Healthy Savannah, East Georgia Cancer Coalition, and Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential join CHC to focus on vaccination equity to prevent cervical cancer in Macon, Savannah, Augusta, and the surrounding areas.

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- CHC: Creating Healthier Communities (CHC) announced three new partnerships addressing cervical cancer prevention efforts in Augusta, Macon, Savannah, and the surrounding counties. The multi-faceted collaboration, consisting of community-based nonprofit organizations, community leaders, local corporations and health centers will reach community members with primary prevention information related to human papillomavirus (HPV) and increase the number of individuals referred for HPV prevention.

Cervical cancer—the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide— is primarily caused by HPV. Cancers caused by HPV are preventable. Interventions, including HPV vaccination, could prevent more than 90% of cancers caused by HPV from ever developing.

The overall incidence rate in Georgia is slightly greater in rural Georgians who face greater systemic barriers to good health and healthcare. Cervical cancer rates tend to be particularly high when access to healthcare and prevention services are hindered by unmet social needs. Georgia at 62% lags behind the US overall in up-to-date HPV vaccination.

"The goal of these partnerships is to bridge the gap between communities and needed services so that reductions in cervical cancer rates can be achieved more equitably," said Valerie L. Rochester, CHC's chief health equity officer. "Education, early detection, and preventative measures like vaccination are critical to decrease cervical cancer rates. Community awareness and trust are the best ways to ensure that more Georgians have access to these interventions."

Under this initiative, CHC selected three organizations to receive funding support ranging from $75,000 - $150,000 to develop community-level efforts to increase awareness, build trust, and increase demand for cervical cancer prevention interventions, including increased HPV vaccine coverage. Funded partners will help 1) Increase the number of community members reached with HPV-focused prevention information and messaging and 2) Increase the number of community members referred to HPV prevention.

CHC awarded funds to:

•     Healthy Savannah
•     East Georgia Cancer Coalition
•     Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential

These three organizations were selected from an application pool across Georgia. Applicants were selected with the support of a Georgia-based advisory committee comprised of health-focused leaders and stakeholders, and persons with lived experiences from the Macon, Savannah, Augusta, and surrounding areas.

About CHC: Creating Healthier Communities
CHC: Creating Healthier Communities exists so that every person in every community has an opportunity to live their healthiest life. We build partnerships to address health inequities by fostering trusted community engagement, fundraising, and offering programs and services to help support communities where everyone can thrive. Together with partners, we've raised more than $1 billion in unrestricted funds for more than 5,000 nonprofits, addressing the barriers to health and wellbeing. We have a vast network, partnering with more than 650 businesses and organizations representing 17 million individuals. For nearly 70 years, our work has supported the greatest unmet needs for children, individuals, families, and communities—including programs, research, treatments, and care. Join us at chcimpact.org or @chcimpact.

Media Contact

Amanda Ponzar, CHC, 571.302.9171, aponzar@chcimpact.org, https://chcimpact.org/

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SOURCE CHC